News & events

"We must deliver fusion": new Culham CEO | 04/10/2016

Professor Ian Chapman’s job as the new CEO of UKAEA – and Head of Culham Centre for Fusion Energy – officially started on 1 October, and after farewell events for his predecessor Steve Cowley at the end of last week, he is already hitting the ground running.

Ian’s long-term focus is crystal clear – an ambition he started to share with Culham staff at presentations last Friday:

“We must deliver fusion; it will be an essential part of the portfolio of energy sources that the world will need as the global population continues to expand and develop. Delivering fusion is undoubtedly a big challenge, but one that mankind must overcome, and the work we are doing at Culham is at the international forefront of tackling this challenge.”

Meanwhile, Steve Cowley has departed to become President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Far from leaving fusion, he looks forward to continuing his plasma physics research interests – and he plans to come back to Culham for the occasional weekly physics meeting!

He said: “I would like to thank everyone for what was an emotional last couple of days and for all their support over the previous eight and a half years. I wish Ian, and all at Culham, the very best for the future.”